Guy Zompa is a man in motion. By day, he is a technology facilitator for Egg Harbor Township schools, and by night he is the director of operations for Little Water Distillery in Atlantic City. Born and raised in Atlantic City, Zompa completed his undergraduate work at Richard Stockton University, and his Masters at Rowan University. Throughout his career, Zompa has worked for and represented companies such as ESPN, Sam Adams, Corona and Yuengling. Returning to Atlantic City for work was important for Zompa, as his family has lived in A.C. for four generations. He is a firm believer in the revitalization of Atlantic City and puts his efforts into helping support the community through non-profit fundraising at Little Water Distillery, all while bringing new visitors to their uptown location. He currently resides in Egg Harbor Twp with his daughter Zoey, 9.

Guy A. Zompa Jr., 38

Director of Operations, Little Water Distillery Guy Zompa is a man in motion. By day, he is a technology facilitator for Egg Harbor Township schools, and by night he is the director of operations for Little Water Distillery in Atlantic City. Born and raised in Atlantic City, Zompa completed his undergraduate work at Richard Stockton University, and his Masters at Rowan University. Throughout his career, Zompa has worked for and represented companies such as ESPN, Sam Adams, Corona and Yuengling. Returning to Atlantic City for work was important for Zompa, as his family has lived in A.C. for four generations. He is a firm believer in the revitalization of Atlantic City and puts his efforts into helping support the community through non-profit fundraising at Little Water Distillery, all while bringing new visitors to their uptown location. He currently resides in Egg Harbor Twp with his daughter Zoey, 9.

Upon graduating from Stockton, Nick Kafkalas helped found Lazy Eye Distillery, the first craft distillery of Atlantic and Cape May counties. In the three years since the company’s inception, Kafkalas has overseen the production of Lazy Eye Distillery’s spirits which have won 11 medals in international spirits competitions, including the Gold medal at the New York International Spirits Competition, as well as the Best in Class award at the Seattle International Spirits Awards. He also serves as a the company’s marketing and sales manager, leading to Lazy Eye’s expansion in several surrounding states. Kafkalas is active in his church community, where he taught Sunday school for four years and, at 19 years old, was the youngest church member to ever be elected to the Parish Council. As a parish council member, he spends hours dealing with the business of the church, as well as the many ministries that the church is involved in throughout Atlantic County and beyond. Kafkalas volunteered as an assistant coach for Northfield Community School’s soccer team and also thoroughly enjoys volunteering as a basketball coach for his church’s youth group, where his duties as a coach are not only basketball related, but to mentor and encourage the children to surpass through the challenges of today.

Top 40 Under 40 presents a tale of two distilleries

Guy Zompa is a man in motion. By day, he is a technology facilitator for Egg Harbor Township schools, and by night he is the director of operations for Little Water Distillery in Atlantic City. Born and raised in Atlantic City, Zompa completed his undergraduate work at Richard Stockton University, and his Masters at Rowan University. Throughout his career, Zompa has worked for and represented companies such as ESPN, Sam Adams, Corona and Yuengling. Returning to Atlantic City for work was important for Zompa, as his family has lived in A.C. for four generations. He is a firm believer in the revitalization of Atlantic City and puts his efforts into helping support the community through non-profit fundraising at Little Water Distillery, all while bringing new visitors to their uptown location. He currently resides in Egg Harbor Twp with his daughter Zoey, 9.

Guy A. Zompa Jr., 38

Director of Operations, Little Water Distillery Guy Zompa is a man in motion. By day, he is a technology facilitator for Egg Harbor Township schools, and by night he is the director of operations for Little Water Distillery in Atlantic City. Born and raised in Atlantic City, Zompa completed his undergraduate work at Richard Stockton University, and his Masters at Rowan University. Throughout his career, Zompa has worked for and represented companies such as ESPN, Sam Adams, Corona and Yuengling. Returning to Atlantic City for work was important for Zompa, as his family has lived in A.C. for four generations. He is a firm believer in the revitalization of Atlantic City and puts his efforts into helping support the community through non-profit fundraising at Little Water Distillery, all while bringing new visitors to their uptown location. He currently resides in Egg Harbor Twp with his daughter Zoey, 9.

Nicholas Kafkalas, 25

Co-founder, Lazy Eye Distillery

Upon graduating from Stockton, Nick Kafkalas helped found Lazy Eye Distillery, the first craft distillery of Atlantic and Cape May counties. In the three years since the company’s inception, Kafkalas has overseen the production of Lazy Eye Distillery’s spirits which have won 11 medals in international spirits competitions, including the Gold medal at the New York International Spirits Competition, as well as the Best in Class award at the Seattle International Spirits Awards. He also serves as a the company’s marketing and sales manager, leading to Lazy Eye’s expansion in several surrounding states. Kafkalas is active in his church community, where he taught Sunday school for four years and, at 19 years old, was the youngest church member to ever be elected to the Parish Council. As a parish council member, he spends hours dealing with the business of the church, as well as the many ministries that the church is involved in throughout Atlantic County and beyond. Kafkalas volunteered as an assistant coach for Northfield Community School’s soccer team and also thoroughly enjoys volunteering as a basketball coach for his church’s youth group, where his duties as a coach are not only basketball related, but to mentor and encourage the children to surpass through the challenges of today.

Though the stereotypical image that most people may have of a Top 40 Under 40 recipient would be a buttoned up, all-business type, this year not one, but two of our honorees have a background in distilling spirits. That’s right — booze.

“I wouldn’t say I am a ‘Party Guy,’ but I enjoy having fun,” says Guy Zompa, who works as director of operations at Little Water Distillery in Atlantic City. “I never feel like being at Little Water Distillery is work. We are surrounded by customers who’ve become friends and visit weekly. It’s always a good time, and fun place to be. We work hard and we play hard, too.”

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Of course, it’s not all play time for Zompa. In fact, much of his time is spent giving back to the community from which he came.

“Atlantic City has always been home to me. My daughter is the fourth generation of my family (to be) baptized at St. Michael’s. My father’s parents were a huge part of Ducktown for over 90 years, so we’ve seen the city rolling high and low,” he says.

Zompa makes sure to honor A.C. through his charitable work with Little Water. “We have fundraising events, as well as bottling parties where we donate proceeds back to the different nonprofits throughout the city and surrounding area. Fifty cents from every bottle of vodka we sell goes directly to the Atlantic City Arts Foundation.”

Nick Kafkalas may work at a different distillery (Lazy Eye), but he shares a similar passion for giving back.

“I grew up in a household and church community that always emphasized helping the less fortunate,” he says.

Kafkalas continues the traditions that he was raised with to this day, as he and his family regularly donate to an orphanage in Greece. “It is called Protovoulia Gia To Padi, which translates to ‘Initiative for Children.’ They provide a home for children whose ages range from toddlers to high school students. For the last few years, my family has been providing each child with a new outfit for back to school, Christmas and Easter.”

Kafkalas’ brother Anthony Panetta was honored with a Top 40 award last year for his charitable work. It seems the passion runs in the family.

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“Lazy Eye is our family business. I grew up in a house where I thought things like fermenting grapes and stills were normal. We opened up Lazy Eye in 2014 which coincided with me graduating college at Stockton. I threw myself into the business. My role at Lazy Eye varies from day to day and from hour to hour. One second you are making spirits and the next minute you are giving tours or trying to acquire new accounts. It is ever changing, and I think that is why I like it so much. The first time I saw a bottle of Lazy Eye on the shelves at a liquor store is a moment I will never forget.”

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